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OK-VDRS BRIEF REPORT
Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System
Violent Deaths among Native Americans in Oklahoma
http://ips.health.ok.gov October 2011
Every year more than 50,000 people die from violence in the U.S. Violent deaths in the U.S. occur
disproportionately among Native Americans (NA). From 2004-2007, average homicide rates for NA were 20%
higher and suicide rates were 8% higher than the U.S. Oklahoma’s population has one of the highest
concentrations of NA of any state in the U.S. Nine percent of Oklahoma’s population is Native American
compare to 1% of the U.S. population. Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System (OK-VDRS) data were used
to determine the prevalence of violent deaths among NA in Oklahoma and identify disparities between NA and
non-NA.
• From 2004-2008 there were 4,560 violent deaths
among Oklahoma residents; 457 (10%) of the
victims were NA.
• Seventy-four percent of NA victims were male and
26% were female.
• The mean age of NA victims was 32 years (range
<1 - 80 years).
• Forty nine percent of violent deaths among NA
were suicide, 26% were of undetermined manner
death, 23% were homicide, 1% was legal
intervention and less than 1% was unintentional
firearm injury death.
• Rates of violent deaths among NA were highest
among persons 25-44 years of age (Figure 1).
• The mean age of non-NA victims was 40 years (range <1 - 101 years).
• The overall violent death rate among NA was 17% higher than the rate among non-NA (28.1 and 24.0 per
100,000 population, respectively). The suicide rate among NA was 5% less than the rate among non-NA.
The undetermined manner death among NA was more than twice the rate for non-NA, and the homicide
rate among NA was 20% higher than the rate among non-NA (Table 1).
Table 1. Comparison of Violent Death Rates among Native Americans and Non-Native Americans by Manner,
Oklahoma 2004-2008
Native American
(Rate*)
Non-Native American
(Rate*)
Ratio Native American/
Non-Native American
All Violent Death 28.1 24 1.17
Suicide 13.8 14.4 0.95
Homicide 6.6 5.5 1.20
Unknown Manner Death 7.2 3.5 2.05
Legal Intervention 0.4 0.3 1.33
Unintentional Firearm 0.1 0.3 0.33
*Rate per 100,000 population
36.4
2.8
26.9
47.5 47.2
34.7
17.1 16.3
28.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Total
Figure 1. Rate of Violent Deaths Among Native Americans
by Age, Oklahoma 2004-2008

OK-VDRS BRIEF REPORT
Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System
Violent Deaths among Native Americans in Oklahoma
http://ips.health.ok.gov October 2011
Every year more than 50,000 people die from violence in the U.S. Violent deaths in the U.S. occur
disproportionately among Native Americans (NA). From 2004-2007, average homicide rates for NA were 20%
higher and suicide rates were 8% higher than the U.S. Oklahoma’s population has one of the highest
concentrations of NA of any state in the U.S. Nine percent of Oklahoma’s population is Native American
compare to 1% of the U.S. population. Oklahoma Violent Death Reporting System (OK-VDRS) data were used
to determine the prevalence of violent deaths among NA in Oklahoma and identify disparities between NA and
non-NA.
• From 2004-2008 there were 4,560 violent deaths
among Oklahoma residents; 457 (10%) of the
victims were NA.
• Seventy-four percent of NA victims were male and
26% were female.
• The mean age of NA victims was 32 years (range
<1 - 80 years).
• Forty nine percent of violent deaths among NA
were suicide, 26% were of undetermined manner
death, 23% were homicide, 1% was legal
intervention and less than 1% was unintentional
firearm injury death.
• Rates of violent deaths among NA were highest
among persons 25-44 years of age (Figure 1).
• The mean age of non-NA victims was 40 years (range <1 - 101 years).
• The overall violent death rate among NA was 17% higher than the rate among non-NA (28.1 and 24.0 per
100,000 population, respectively). The suicide rate among NA was 5% less than the rate among non-NA.
The undetermined manner death among NA was more than twice the rate for non-NA, and the homicide
rate among NA was 20% higher than the rate among non-NA (Table 1).
Table 1. Comparison of Violent Death Rates among Native Americans and Non-Native Americans by Manner,
Oklahoma 2004-2008
Native American
(Rate*)
Non-Native American
(Rate*)
Ratio Native American/
Non-Native American
All Violent Death 28.1 24 1.17
Suicide 13.8 14.4 0.95
Homicide 6.6 5.5 1.20
Unknown Manner Death 7.2 3.5 2.05
Legal Intervention 0.4 0.3 1.33
Unintentional Firearm 0.1 0.3 0.33
*Rate per 100,000 population
36.4
2.8
26.9
47.5 47.2
34.7
17.1 16.3
28.1
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
0-4 5-14 15-24 25-34 35-44 45-54 55-64 65+ Total
Figure 1. Rate of Violent Deaths Among Native Americans
by Age, Oklahoma 2004-2008